NOTE: This message was emailed to all Ballad Health team members on Tuesday, Sept. 30.
Dear Colleague,
Today’s the day to finish strong! If you haven’t completed the Team Collaboration program yet, be sure to do so by the end of today to be considered “on time” for the B Excellent portion of your annual performance appraisal. Completing the program not only meets expectations but also gives you and your team the full benefit of this investment.
As we wrap up the break between programs, our recent Tuesday Tips have helped us stay connected by highlighting themes from the Team Member Engagement Survey – bringing clarity to your questions and spotlighting what matters most to our teams.
We’ve already focused on compensation, paid time off (PTO) and work-life balance. This week we’re going to take a closer look at our benefits.
Ballad Health’s benefits are self-funded, which means that instead of paying an outside insurance company to take on the financial risk of claims, Ballad Health directly pays the cost of team members’ healthcare. Covering the medical claims for all eligible team members and their dependents across the system far exceeds the dollars we all contribute through premiums and payroll deductions. By accessing the right level of care needed (urgent care versus emergency room visit), choosing Tier 1 providers and services, making use of preventive care and other wellness programs like the Diabetes Management Program and participating in B-Well activities, we help keep costs manageable. It’s one more way we work together as a team and take care of one another.
Here are a few highlights of our competitive benefits package:
Medical plan options
Choice Plan (HDHP + HSA eligible)
- High deductible but low premiums
- Pairs with a health savings account (HSA) for tax-free savings
- Great for team members who want to save on monthly costs and are comfortable with higher out-of-pocket expenses before coverage kicks in
Bronze Plan (HDHP + HSA eligible)
- Similar to the Choice plan, but with higher premiums (unless opting for TM-only coverage) and higher deductibles
- Also pairs with an HSA
PPO Plan
- Higher premiums, but lower deductible than the HDHPs
- Low coinsurance when you use Ballad Health facilities or Ballad Health Medical Associates providers
- Predictable costs for frequent care, making it a good fit if you or your family expect to use more medical services
Part-time team members working 20-29 hours/week are now eligible for medical-only coverage (including pharmacy and EAP).
Pharmacy coverage
- Administered through Capital Rx, designed to pass savings to members.
- All medical plans include prescription drug coverage with a separate Capital Rx card.
Extra health resources
- Nutritional counseling: Free visits for obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and more (with physician order).
- Comprehensive Diabetes Management Program: No-cost medications, supplies, coaching and lifestyle support for enrolled members and dependents with type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes.
Mental health support
- The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides 10 free counseling or medication management visits per year for you and covered dependents.
- Services are available in person, via telehealth or by phone.
HSA vs. FSA: What’s the difference?
- HSA: Available with Choice and Bronze HDHP plans. This allows you to save pre-tax dollars for healthcare expenses, and funds roll over year to year.
- FSA: Available for healthcare and dependent care expenses. Pre-tax contributions, but funds are generally “use it or lose it.”
Dental & vision
- Delta Dental: Three plan options with in-network discounts.
- VSP Vision: Coverage for exams, glasses and contacts through a large provider network.
Other coverage & perks
- Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability.
- Voluntary benefits like legal services, identity theft protection, pet insurance, home/auto insurance and AirMedCare.
- Discounted childcare at Ballad Health’s Centers for Early Learning.
You can explore all benefit details by clicking the Benefits button on the Human Resources SharePoint page.
We’re excited to share that next week marks the launch of our next B Excellent program: Better Begins with Us. Through this program, the skills and tips have been carefully selected to directly align with our core values, guiding us forward as an organization.
